Shoveling machine



May 15, 1928.l

F. H. ARMSTRONG sHovELING MACHINE INVENTOR May 15, 1928.-

F. H. ARMSTRONG SHOVELING- MACHINE Filed Dec; 21, 1925 7 sheets-sheet 3 INVENTOR May l5, 1928.

F. H. ARMSTRONG SHOVELING MACHINE Filed Dec.' 21. 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 15, 1928.

f 1,669,688 F. H. ARMSTRONG SHOVELING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2l, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 107 las HIIIII l INVENTOR May 15, 1928. 1,669,688

F. H. ARMSTRONG SHOVELING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1925 7 sheetsfsheet 7 INVENTOR Patentedr May 15, 1928.

I UNITED STA res yPM FBAK ARMSTRONG, OF GREEN BAY,` WISCONSIN.

`SHOVELING MACHINE.

application mea December 21, i925. serial No. 76,716.

,The yinvention relates to shoveling machines, or loaders, designed to shovel loose material, such as coal, ore and the like .from a pile and transfer it to cars. It constitutes an improvement over the machine of my Patent No.k 1,360,997-, of Decemberk 7, 1920.

The structure `is iny a general way similar to that of my patent, and like themachine of the patent, comprises a truck carrying a turntable which in turn supports a framework having a track. Upon the track is mounted a carriage, which moves back and forth with a shovel secure-d thereto by depending arms. The pre-sent machine dili'ers from the machine ofthe/.patent in a number of details, among which are the shovel may be linstantly construction, and the means :for discharging it; the means for supporting the shovel including the` pairs Yoi arms; the.. means for anchoring the machine securely in position; andthe valve control. y l n The invention has for some o1 its principal objects; (1) the provision of improved means for anchoring the machine, so that it i anchored lor released; the provision of improved control for the hydro-electric operating means so arranged that the pump may be-kept running at no load when none of the hydraulic power rams or cylinders are in use, 1 thus insuring instant and powerful application of the powerof the rams or cylinders when the valves are moved to service position; the provision of a simplified and compactarrangement of theA two sets of cylinders for operating the reciprocating carriage of the machine and the swinging yarm carrying the,

shovel; and v(L1) the Lprovision or'. an improved arm the lshovel so that the shovel operates at, an advantageous, slightly inclined position, when digging, and at a horizontal position when discharging, so ythat a yminimum of hea-d room is required. One embodiment of the invent-ion is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: l l l F i gure 1 is a diagrannnatic side elevation of the complete machine,- the dotted lines showing anumber of positions of the shovel Ain addition tothe one showny in full lines. Fig. 2 is a diagrammaticvplan view of the machinev of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa partial plan view and partial horizontal section through the carriage at the level of the carriage .and shovel., operating rams. Fig. 4 is a Vrilecton .thrOugh the machine onthe or link supporting means for line b.lV- 1VV of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of the shovel and its supporting arms or links, Fig. k6 is a lvertical' section through the valve casing. Fm. 7 is a partial horizontal section on the 1111i vri-vn of Fig. nana rig. e is a detail of the jack. foot.`

lReferring to the general arrangement ofk Figs. land 2,1 is a track, upon which is mounted the truck 2, and one of the cars 3V which is to be loaded with the material shoveled from .the Hoor 4. r1`he truck carries the framework of the machine com rising the' side members 5, 5 (Figs. 1 an 2), the top and bottom plates 6 and 7 (Fig. 4) and the column or cylinder 8 (F 4;) carrying the anchoring plungers 9 and 10,1ater described. v

Y, 'Mounted for movement lin a horizontal plane longitudinally of the upper portion of the fname members 5 5 is a carriage 11 (Fig. 2) provided with four rollers 12, 12,. 1'2, 12 working inthe guidew-ays 13, 13 shown in Fig. 4, such rollers being mounted onthe axles14 secured inthe carriage framework. `k

, In order to provide for the rotation of the machine framework to'permit the shovel to work on any side of the track, and to discharge into ears located at the sides of the tracker beyond it, the truck is provided with an annular 'support-ino' casting 15 (Fig. 4) provided with the iiange 16 lying in lan annular recess in the bottom plate 7 of the framework between the antifriction bearings 17 and 18. The rotation o1 thel'framework is accomplished by the h draulic motor 19, operating through suita le reduction gearing (shown only in part) to rotate the pinion 20v engaging a gear 21 secured to the casting 15. The motor is driven by water pressure supplied from a triplex pumpl 22 (Fig. 7) driven from the the intermediaryl electric motor 23 through of the gears 24 and 25. The pump 22 is also employed to operate the variousl hydraulic rams employed upon the lmachine vas later described, all the hydraulic power required for the functioning ofthe ymachine being supplied fromthe'onefpump 22 aetuat'ed from the electric motor. .l

"The carriage 11 yhas adjacent its rear end on each side apair of .pivots 26 and 27 (Figs. 1 and-4), arranged one above the other, upon which are mounted for swinging movement,l

the rear ends of theV armsor links 28.211141 29 which carry the shovel 30, the forward ends of the arms being pivoted to the sides of the shovel at 312L and 32a. This provides for the maintenance lof the shovelin an. approximately horizontalposition, as 1t swings from the dotted line position A of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position B. vHowever, the shovel loads better in 'itsforward gathering movement, wheninclined slightly downward from the horizontal, as `indicated at A, and

' in an inclinedposition, and even a slight amount of additional clearance is an im-.

portant consideration in a machine designed primarily for mine work where the overhead is always limited. The dotted line poi sitions of Fig. l serve to indicate the vrange ofmovement of the carriage in gathering thev load and of the arms 2S and 29 in swinging the l,shovel vertically.. The full line position C shows the shovel 1n starting position, with the carriage at extreme rear position; A indica-tes the shovel after load# ing the carriage in extreme forward position; B shows the position of the shovel when swung upward 'to a height where it` can pass over the side of a car to be loaded; and D shows the position-of theshovely when the framework of the machine is yretracted so as to bring rthe shovel as near the center of the machine as possible to permit it toy revolve in narrow places.

The shovel 30 (Fig.` 5) consists ofside plates and a bottom plate 3l provided with the usual serrated lend piece 32. The discharging plate 33 ismounted for movement Y longitudinally of the shovel between Vthe side plates and is operatedby a plunger 34 pivoted at 35 and-"working Yin the cylinder 36; This cylinder is pivoted at 37 vto the arms 28, 28' and is supplied'with iiuid'pressure from the pump 22. vThe plate 33foccupies CJI Ace

its position at the rear end of the shovel ,during the gathering operation,v and .is

moved to forward position, as indicatedby the dotted lines at the left hand end of the shovel in Fig. 5, whenv it is desired to discharge the contents tothe car.

i The carriage 11 isl reciprocated to move the shovel .from position C to position A 1),.in the gatheringoperation,` and'to return it again to starting position, by means of a' pair of vhydraulic rams consistingof the cylinders38, 38 also supplied with fluid pressure kfrom theip'umvp 2.2 and carrying 'a `pair ofplungers 39, 39 (Fig. 3). ,The 'cylinders are secured at their forward ends in the blocks 40, 4l carried by the fixed'frarnework of the machine and at theirrear' ends in the castings 42 supported in the fixed framcworlrof the machine. Theplunger's carry the pistons44 at their rear ends, and at theirV front `ends aire bolted to the frame member 45 forming a part of thecarriage,

Slidably mounted on the cylinders 38v as guides are afpair'of hollow plungers 46,

.these plungers being secured at Vtheir lefthand endete-the cross head' 47 carrying the pulleys 48. The other'en'ds of the plungers are lprovided with piston heads 49 working inthe cylindersv() secured tolthebrackets 43,*mounted on, vor forming, apart of the fixed carriage of the machine.

The reciprocation ofthe cross head 47. by I i thehollow plunger-S46 secures lthe swinging of the arms 28 and 29 and the movement of thev shovel from'` its gathering position Ato its dumping position B and then back to its lowerI position after.' the dumping operation, the plungers being operated by fluidL pressure supplied from the pump' and controlled as later'described` v I I The means 'whereby the v4recipr'ocation of the hollow plunger and the crosshea'd 47 causes the lifting and loweringjof theshovel will be seen by lreference to Figs. 2 and 3. This means includes the cables 51,151, se-

indicated at 52m F ig."5, `and at 'their rear ends to the lugs 53,53 on the carriage'(Fig.' 2). The machine is provided with` eight idler pulleys, @over which the Xcables. 51, 51

-' cured at their forward ends tothe shovel, asV i ioo pass, namely;-the pulleys 54, 54 atvtjhefront. end of the carriage upon the shaft 55,` the pulleys 48 on the cross head 47, and thepulleys' 57,' 57 and53, 58, journaled, as' indicated inFig; 4, upon the pins 59, 59 mounted in' suitablev brackets G0, l,(51v cari'i'edby the framework `of `the carriage. The coursesof the two cables 51, '5lare similar, so vthat'a statement as' toone onlyfis sufficient; .Star-ting withthe rear endl ofv the cable 5l attachedfto thelug 53, such cable passes'to therear around the lug '56,then forward to Y 'i thepulley 58, thenlaterally to the pulley 57, then'to Athe 'rear and up over thepulley`43, thenfforwa'rdly over. the pulley 54 and down tothe shovel. IThe movemcnt'of the 'cross head 47 carrying thc'nilleys 43, 48and operated by the hollow plungers 46,7456 causes the raising'and lowering of thefshoveh'since the loops of cable 'passing around such pulleys g 48 are lengthen@ flDClfShort'ened in'this way, the shovel beingraised when the lcross head moves to the right L( Fig.`2) and lowered when it moves' to thel left.,` It will' be fob! served that the telescopic arrangement of the cylinders 38 and 50 gives averyfcompactand eective -arrangement and' that ythe cylinder-38 is made to actas aguideforv the tenaces hol-low plunger 46 and for the cross hea'd 47. rlhe means for `anchoring the machine from the roof above and the floor beneath, will be seen by reference to l in con# nection with Fig. 1'. The r`column 8, which is secured rigidly to the rest of the framework of the machine, is made to actv as a lcylinder for the plungers 9 and 10, the plunger 10 being provided intermediate its ends with t-he shoulder 62 and packing 63, while the plunger 10 is provided at its upper end with the packing 6a. Fluid pressure is supp-lied from the pump '22' through a pipe leading tothe passages 65 yand l66 at a point in the cylinder '8j between the plunger 10 just abovethe packing 64. The plunger 9 has secured to yits'upper end the `cap 67, 'while the plunger 10 engages the center of the foot 68 with a socket joint, so `as to permit the footto adjust itself to any equalities which may bev encountered. `The foot.' 68 is provided at its ends with the pair yof 'feet 69 '(Fig. 8) with serrated lower faces for engaging the ties which support the.v

track 1. The feet also have p'ivoted `connectionl with the *ends of the foot 68 to permit the feet to adjust themselves to any unevenness of the ties. The foot 6:8 is' normally held inupper position, as indicated in Fig. v8, so that the feet 69 do not 'engage theties, by means ofthe springs 70. These springs are supported upon lugs 71 projectingfrom the ytruck frame i2 andengarging the heads of -the stud bolts 73, which are screwed at their lower ends into the lugs 74 projecting laterally from the jack foo-t 68'. These springs are of such strength that when the hydraulic pressure between the ends of the plungers 8 and 9 is released, 'the jack foot 68 is raised and with it vthe, plunger 10 and the feet 69. At the Sametime, the 'upper plunger 9 is moved down'by the force of gravity, so that the machine is completely released from fits anchorage and free to be moved to 'a new position. 3'-

The control of the fluid from thepump Q2 (Fig. 7) to the four different hydraulic motors or rams isr afforded by means of lfour valves 75, 76, 77 and 78 (Fig. 6)I inthe valve casing (79)', and the'se valves aire turn 'under the control of an operator Wh'o'occupies the seat 80 (Fig. 7) and moves the valves in and out through the intermediary of certain hand levers and foot pedals. For instance the rams operating the cables 51 for swinging the shovel up and down, are con-. trolled from the hand lever81 pivoted on the shaft 82, which lever has a crank arm connected to the horizontal lever 83 by means of the link 84;. The lever 83 is pivoted at its end to the stem 85 of the valve l7 5 (Fig. 6). The valve 76 is operated from the pedals connected by the links88 and 89 to a double crank member pivoted on the shaft 80 and having one arm above the shaft and :and the exhaust port 103.

one below, and this crank member in turn operates the' link'90 which moves the stem 91 (Fig. 6)y in and out through the intermediary of a; horizont-al link similar to the link 83l and lying beneath it. yThis valve 76 controls the motor19'(Fig. 4) which swings the turntable. The valve 77 controls the ram for operating ythe scraper 33 (Fig. 5) and dumping the shovel. This valve is operated by the stem 92, which is moved from the hand lever 93 through mechanism, including the linkf93, which isthe duplicate of that described in connectionwith the operation of the valve 75. The fourthV valve 78, having a stem 94, controls the operation of the krains 38, which movethe carriage 11 back and forth. This valve is controlled from the hand lever 95, which is keyed to the shaft 82. The other end of this shaft swings a lever 96, which is connected to the stem'94 through theintermediary of a link 97- and a horizontallever lying below lever 83 and similar thereto. v

The valve control will be understoodv by reference to Fig-6. Fluid pressure for operating all ofthe power lmembers is supplied fthrough the pipes 98 to the chamber '99, and thence 'downward through the ports 100't'o the three cavities' 101.- Exhaust oc'- curs from one side -of each ram plunger through'th'e end penings 102,- and from the othersfide's of the 'ram plungers throughthe the side yopenings y103.- Admission occurs to one side ofthe ram plungers through the ports 104 andto the other vside of such plungers through the 'ports1'05l The valvesare all illustrated as in neutral position. The two sets'of admission ports 104 "and 1'05 are blanke'd. )Vhcn a valve,

*such as 78, moved to the right, the port 104 "i'suncovcred, Iso that fluid` pressure 1s y admitted vto oneV endof the carriage reciprocating cylinders, the other end ofsuc'h cylinder-s Abeing opened to the exhaust by reason of the 'communication between the .port 105 If the valve is moved to the left from the' positionillustrated, ad'n'i'issio'n occurs to the other end ofthe. cylinder, via the ports 101 and 10r ,while eX- haust'loccurs from .the opposite .end of the cylinder,via the ports V104s and 102.

1n order to permit the pump to run con# 'tinuously when the'valve's aire all in neutral position, ahy-pass arrangement is provided,

so that a prompt and powerful action is secured when any valve is moved to operativek position, such as would not be possible if.y the pumpwerehrought to a stop with the valves in neutral position. This by-pass is provided by the circulation ports 106 and 107 in conjunction with the exhaust port 108 from the bottom valve cavity and leading back to the supply tank of the pump. It will be seen that with the valves all in the neutral positions illustrated, a continuous by-pass circulation isv permitted from the,v

pump to the chamber 99 and thence back .to the supply tank via the ports 106, 107 Aand 108, whichy circulation is interrupted when any one of the valves 75,76, 77 or 78 is moved in either' direction from neutral position to operative position. ,n

Briefly stated, the operation ofthe shovel, starting with-theparts in the full line position of Figs. 1 `and 2 is as follows: Fluid pressure being admitted to therear or right hand endof the cylinders 38 (Fig. 3), the plungers 39, 39 are moved to the left, thus moving the carriage to the left,.and with it the shovel from position C of Fig. llo positionk A. During this movement, the shovel' is filled. The next movement is the swinging of the shovel from-position A to position B, which is accomplished by the plungers 46 which move the cross head 4T from la point adjacent the block (Fig. l3)

` to the right of such position and to the position illustratedin/Fig. 3, thus lengthening the loops ofthe cables 51, 51 passing'around the pulley 48, 4:8, andraising the shovel to position B.l During or after this raising operation', the turntable motor 19 is operated to swing the framework of thev machine with the shovel laterally soas to bring it to position over a receiving car (not shown). The last operation is the" actuationof the dumping plunger 34 to movev the scraper 33 and push the contents of the shovel over its forward end and into the car. The series of operations is now reversed to bring the shovel back to start-ing positionl C, thus completing the cycle. i

. WhatIclaim is:v .f l p 1. In combination ina shoveling machine comprising a truck, a. framework thereon, a carriage mounted for reciprocationthereon in a horizontal plane, a shovel, supporting arms for the shovel, and a plurality 'of hydraulic rams for operating the carriage and shovel, a pump for supplying fluid under pressure to operate each of said rams, a;

motor for driving the pump, a manually operable valve for'controlling the supply of fluid to eachend of each ram, and its returnl to the pump, anda by-pass extending vpast all yof the valves and returning to the'pump for permitting a continuous circulation of -fiuid to the valves andl yback tothe pump when the valves areall inneutral position,

the by-pass so as to close'it when any one l y of the valves i-S moved from neutral to opera-l tive position.- y

2. In combination in a shoveling machine comprising va truck, a framework thereon, a. `carriage mounted forA reciprocation thereon in a horizontal plane,'a'shovel, and supporting arms for theshovel pivotedthereto and y tov thecarriage, a cylinder secured,y to theV framework and* extending longitudinally of fthe carriage, -a vplunger vin the cylinderY secured atl one ofits ends to the carriage for reciprocating 1t, a secondcylmder surrounding the. first cylinder and also secured .to

the framework, a. hollow plunger lying between the two ycylinders and guided yonthev inner one, a iexible member'guided yupon v the carriage and connected lso as to raise and lower the shove-l, and meanscarried by said hollow plunger and having operative lconnection with said fleXiblelmember, lso as to raise and lower the shovel when said hollow plunger isreciprocated; y

3. In combination in a shoveling machine comprising atruck, a framework thereoma carriage mounted lforfreciprocation thereon in a horizontal'plane, a shovel, and supporting arms for the shovel pivoted thereto and to thecarriage, a v cylinder'securedto the i framework and .extending longitudinally of the carriage, a plunger in the cylinder secured atrone of its ends lto the carriage for reciprocating it, a Isecond .cylinder surrounding the firstcylinderand also'securedI to the framework, a hollow v plunger lyingfbetween the two cylinders and guided onK the inner onea flexible member guided iupon the carriage andfconnectedat one endjto, a part moving with the shovelffo'r rai-sing and lowering it, and connected 'at its other end to said carriage, anda1pulleyncarried bysaid hollow plunger, over which said flexible member is looped, the arrangement of--the fiexible member and pulley being such that thefmovement of the hollow plunger in one direction causes the endfof theflexible member connected toi said .part moving with the shovel vto lift' such shovel. e v f In ltestimony whereof, I, have `hereunto subscribed mypname this lthday of December', 1925. .i

` .FRANK (ARMSTRONG. 

